President John Dramani Mahama has visited Fuveme in the Volta Region to assess the impact of recent tidal waves that have destroyed homes and displaced residents.

The president said he travelled to the area after receiving reports of the sea breaking through coastal defenses, to better understand the situation on the ground.

He explained that the affected communities fall within the West Africa Coastal Areas Management Programme, a World Bank-supported project aimed at addressing coastal erosion.

President Mahama noted that previous governments undertook similar interventions, including the Keta Sea Defence Project under former President Jerry John Rawlings, as well as the Plevu-Torkor Sea Defence and phases one and two of the Blekusu project during his earlier administration.

He said the remaining stretch of the coastline, including Fuveme and surrounding communities, will be covered under the 150 million dollar WACAC project.

According to him, the project will involve the construction of sea defence systems and groynes to weaken strong ocean currents, allowing waves to return to shore more gently.

He added that coconut trees will be planted along the sea to stabilise the soil, while mangroves will be restored in estuaries to help protect the land from further encroachment by the sea.

The president disclosed that the project experienced delays in 2024 due to the election period, but has since resumed.

He announced that the feasibility studies have been completed and the project is currently at the design stage, after which procurement and construction will begin.

President Mahama assured residents that funding for the project remains intact and has not been diverted, despite the reallocation of funds from other World Bank-supported initiatives.

In the short term, he said government will engage the Volta River Authority to dredge the main estuary to ease pressure on affected areas.

He explained that siltation often blocks the natural flow of water, forcing it to break through other parts of the coastline.

President Mahama emphasised that while immediate steps will be taken to reduce the impact of the tidal waves, the long-term solution remains the full implementation of the WACAC project, which is expected to begin soon.